Pet shop on fire...

Hooray for the caring firefighter that saved what he could.   Run free sweet babies, lots of fun for you at the bridge now!

I can't access the main stories but can see the headlines; what's this about a fund being set up for Delilah's???????????????????

Oh I know, it's ridiculous, imo.  If it had been her home, sure but it was a business, not a home.  She should have insurance that should cover most of it and if she didn't, well then she was not that great of a businesswoman.  I feel bad for her and her family but I'm not donating any money towards her rebuilding her business.  I'm not sure that I would donate for T&T even.  It's a business. 

That's freakin ridiculous.  Though on a good note I did see something in an online article that said she didn't think they would rebuild and would focus on grooming instead.

I'd not donate to T&T even because of the whole "responsible business owners have insurance" thing.  And if Delilah's had insurance then what will they do with the money when they get the insurance payout??  I certainly hope they'd donate it somewhere; ideally the shelter where so many petstore pups end up...

My mom said there was something about the owner being upset about rumors that they worked with puppy mills. :P  Puppy mills prob not, but irresponsible backyard breeders?  Oh yes. :P

having worked the front desk at AC in Bloomington, I can say first-hand that we got ALOT of Delilah dogs relinquished to us by college students. Moving, landlord doesn't allow, going home for the summer - you name it, it was a reason. Now, compared to how many dogs she actually SOLD, it is probably a small percentage, but nonetheless, they are nothing but merchandise for the store to make money off of. I know my schnauzer came from a puppy mill/BYB via Delilah's - she is a genetic nightmare and no responsible breeder would have had this type of issues. Delilah's has been on AC radar for some time and has had warnings issued b/c of the care of the animals there...nothing bad enough to shut her down though. Now the Herald Times is reporting that Delilah's will rebuild...can't read the article b/c you have to pay to subscribe, but sure am curious as to what it says...

She said the 12 animals rescued from the fire have already found new homes. Kidwell wants to open a new store to offer grooming and carry food, allergy supplies and other pet-related items.

That's all it says about rebuilding. I hope that's all she plans to sell.  Would be great to not have pet stores selling animals and just the shelter....

The Kidwells lost 20 dogs, six cats and two birds as well as 400 fish. The loss included the store’s resident animals which included one dog, three cats and two birds. While watching the workers, Kidwell still has hope that the store cats may have run from the building.....

The family admitted that while they have received a huge outpouring of support, they are bothered by false reports that they worked with puppy mills or that the fire was arson. Karene also reiterated that Delilah, the dog for which the shop was named, did not die in the fire but passed away in July.

 

 

They suck; from the local paper yesterday: 

Just a little more than a week after fire destroyed their business, the owners of Delilah’s Pet Shop have reopened in a temporary storefront...

The temporary space was offered for free to Delilah’s by the Slinkard family, who owns the building. They operate Awards Center in one of the suites there...

Shipments of pet food have come in. They now have Eagle Pack, Evo and Merrick brand pet foods plus some treats. Kidwell says some pet supplements should arrive by the end of next week.

Kidwell said she was worried about being able to provide the special pet foods and other items customers had come to depend on. “I was most concerned about not having what they needed when they needed it.”

Kidwell says she greatly appreciates all the help they’ve been offered. “There’s no way that I’m, going to be able to thank the community the way I’d like to.” In the two hours after the fire, she said dozens of people had already offered her assistance. The experience, she says, has restored her faith in human kindness. A fund collection account set up at a local bank has brought in more than $2,000, she said...

When the College Avenue location opens, Kidwell expects they will offer the same range of pet products, but carry fewer animals for sale.

Kidwell says all the animals who survived the fire have found homes except for two beagle puppies and a black kitten....The store, owned by Harry and Karen Kidwell, was destroyed by fire Nov. 3.

 Argh!!!!!!!! It went from "not reopening", to "reopening for grooming only", to "reopening without animals, to THIS. :P  Disgusting!

 Yick.  :(  Maybe they'll just have fish?

What I find most amusing is that the foods listed in the article are ALL available at T&T on the south side and have been for years.  They make it sound like she's the only store that carries them and she's not!  ppphhhbbbtttt!!!!

ppphhhbbbtttt!!!! indeed!  The comments from the online article are split right down the middle - thank goodness for all the people promoting T&T's products and community involvement against the brainwashed few who insist that the store was the best thing since sliced bread.

Absolutely sickening. If the woman has a soul, I hope she uses the money raised to stock her store with products, not pets. Or better yet, donate to those in REAL need - the animals at the city shelter.